Genesis 4
4
Cain Murders Abel
1The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.”#4:1 Lit the Lord 2She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord.#Ex 23:19; 34:26; Neh 10:35 4And Abel also presented an offering — some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions.#Ex 13:12; Nm 18:17; Pr 3:9 The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,#Heb 11:4 5but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious?#Jnh 4:4 And why do you look despondent? 7If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”#Gn 3:16
8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”#4:8 Sam, LXX, Syr, Vg; MT omits “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.#Mt 23:35; Lk 11:51; 1Jn 3:12–15; Jd 11
9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!#Nm 35:33; Dt 21:1–9; Heb 12:24; Rv 6:9–10 11So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed.#4:11 Lit blood from your hand 12If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”#Dt 28:16–18; Is 26:21
13But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment#4:13 Or sin is too great to bear! 14Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”#Nm 35:26–27
15Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case,#4:15 LXX, Syr, Vg read “Not so!” whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And he placed a mark#Ex 9:4; Ezk 9:4,6; Rv 13:16–17 on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. 16Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,#4:16 Lit Wandering east of Eden.
The Line of Cain
17Cain was intimate with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son. 18Irad was born to Enoch, Irad fathered Mehujael, Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19Lamech took two wives for himself, one named Adah and the other named Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the first#4:20 Lit father of the nomadic herdsmen. 21His brother was named Jubal; he was the first#4:21 Lit father of all who play the lyre and the flute. 22Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Tubal-cain’s sister was Naamah.
23Lamech said to his wives:
Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
wives of Lamech, pay attention to my words.
For I killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24If Cain is to be avenged seven times over,
then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times!
25Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has given#4:25 The Hb word for given sounds like the name “Seth.” me another offspring#4:25 Lit seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26A son was born to Seth#Lk 3:38 also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.#Gn 12:8; 26:25; 1Kg 18:24; Ps 116:17; Jl 2:32; Zph 3:9; 1Co 1:2
Currently Selected:
Genesis 4: CSB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Genesis 4
4
1And Adam (Man, ground; red; earthling) knew Khav’vah [Eve] (to breath, to live) his wife; and she conceived, and bore Kayin [something produced, spear], and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) (literally “I have given birth to the man who is in fact Yehovah – Messiah).
2And she again bore his brother Hevel (herdsman). And Hevel (herdsman) was a keeper of sheep, but Kayin [something produced, spear] was a tiller of the ground.
3And in process of time it came to pass, that Kayin [something produced, spear] brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).
4And Hevel (herdsman), he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had respect unto Hevel (herdsman) and to his offering:
5But unto Kayin [something produced, spear] and to his offering he had not respect. And Kayin [something produced, spear] was very exceedingly angry, and his Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) fell.
6And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto Kayin [something produced, spear], Why are youi exceedingly angry? and why is youri Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) fallen?
7If youi do well, shall youi not be accepted? and if youi do not well, sin crouches at the door. And unto youi [shall be] his desire, and youi shall rule over him.
8And Kayin [something produced, spear] talked with Hevel (herdsman) his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Kayin [something produced, spear] rose up against Hevel (herdsman) his brother, and killed him.
9And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto Kayin [something produced, spear], Where [is] Hevel (herdsman) youri brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper?
10And he said, What have youi done? the voice of youri brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground.
11And now [are] youi cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive youri brother’s blood from youri hand;
12When youi till the ground, it shall not from this time forth (from now on) yield unto youi her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall youi be in the earth.
13And Kayin [something produced, spear] said unto the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), My punishment [is] greater than I can bore.
14Behold, youi hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from youri face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that finds me shall slay me.
15And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) said unto him, Therefore whosoever slays Kayin [something produced, spear], vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) set a mark upon Kayin [something produced, spear], lest any finding him should kill him.
16And Kayin [something produced, spear] went out from the presence of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), and dwelt in the land of Nod (vagabond; fugitive), on the east of ‘Eden (bliss).
17And Kayin [something produced, spear] knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)): and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)).
18And unto Hanokh (trained and vowed, dedicated; profound (go deep into something)) was born ‘Irad (wild donkey; heap of empire; dragon): and ‘Irad (wild donkey; heap of empire; dragon) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Mechuya’el (who proclaims God): and Mechuya’el (who proclaims God) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Metusha’el (Man Of God; I’m Mortal, Where’s God?; Man Of Inquisition or Requested Man; [the Man We Wanted]): and Metusha’el (Man Of God; I’m Mortal, Where’s God?; Man Of Inquisition or Requested Man; [the Man We Wanted]) begat (to be father of; be ancestor of) Lemekh (poor; made low).
19And Lemekh (poor; made low) took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] ‘Adah (an assembly) and Tzilah (shadow).
20And ‘Adah bore Yaval (bring, carry, lead, conduct): he was the father of such as dwell in tents [artificial structures], and [of such as have] cattle [vocation (what God calls, gifts a person to do)].
21And his brother’s name [was] Yuv’al (stream): he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ [artistry].
22And Zillah, she also bore Tuval-Kayin (the inhabited world [and its economy] and production, a spear [weapons]), an instructor of every artisan in brass and iron [manufacturing – with military applications]: and the sister of Tuval-Kayin [was] Na’amah [Loveliness] (pleasant).
23And Lemekh (poor; made low) said unto his wives, ‘Adah (an assembly) and Tzilah (shadow), Hear my voice; youf wives of Lemekh (poor; made low), hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
24If Kayin [something produced, spear] shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lemekh (poor; made low) seventy and sevenfold.
25And Adam (Man, ground; red; earthling) knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Shet (Appointed; with connotations of Gluteus Maximus and tumult): For God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered], [said she], has appointed me another seed instead of Hevel (herdsman), whom Kayin [something produced, spear] killed.
26And to Shet (Appointed), to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh (mortal, frail, or miserable; mortal man; sick; despaired of; forgetful): then began men to curse the name (lit. Profane (treat as common; defile) the name) of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Text copyright © 2000-2018 TOV Rose
For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.
Follow the instructions and you will receive the free e-book by email.